U.S. patent application number 11/395808 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-12 for liquid container and liquid filling method.
Invention is credited to Akira Ichihashi, Taku Ishizawa, Satoshi Shinada, Minoru Yajima.
Application Number | 20060227190 11/395808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36425073 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060227190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ishizawa; Taku ; et
al. |
October 12, 2006 |
Liquid container and liquid filling method
Abstract
A liquid container includes: a container body attachable to a
container attachment portion of an apparatus side; a liquid
chamber, provided in the container body, for accommodating a liquid
therein; a liquid supply hole connectable to a liquid receiving
portion of the apparatus side; a liquid leading path for leading
the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to the liquid supply hole;
an air open hole for introducing outside air into the liquid
chamber as the liquid in the liquid chamber is consumed; pressure
regulating means, provided in a portion of the liquid leading path,
for regulating a pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the
liquid receiving portion through the liquid supply hole and
hindering a reverse flow of the liquid from the liquid supply hole
to the liquid chamber; a first bypass path for causing first and
second liquid leading passages of the liquid leading path, provided
respectively before and after the pressure regulating means, to
communicate with each other; and a first bypass blocking portion
capable of blocking the bypass path.
Inventors: |
Ishizawa; Taku; (Nagano,
JP) ; Shinada; Satoshi; (Nagano, JP) ;
Ichihashi; Akira; (Nagano, JP) ; Yajima; Minoru;
(Nagano, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP
180 MAIDEN LANE
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
36425073 |
Appl. No.: |
11/395808 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
347/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 2/17513 20130101;
B41J 2/17556 20130101; B41J 2/17506 20130101; B41J 2/17503
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
347/086 |
International
Class: |
B41J 2/175 20060101
B41J002/175 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 31, 2005 |
JP |
P2005-102874 |
Feb 13, 2006 |
JP |
P2006-035571 |
Claims
1. A liquid container comprising: a container body attachable to a
container attachment portion of an apparatus side; a liquid
chamber, provided in the container body, for accommodating a liquid
therein; a liquid supply hole connectable to a liquid receiving
portion of the apparatus side; a liquid leading path for leading
the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to the liquid supply hole;
an air open hole for introducing outside air into the liquid
chamber as the liquid in the liquid chamber is consumed; pressure
regulating means, provided in a portion of the liquid leading path,
for regulating a pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the
liquid receiving portion through the liquid supply hole and
hindering a reverse flow of the liquid from the liquid supply hole
to the liquid chamber; a first bypass path for causing first and
second liquid leading passages of the liquid leading path, provided
respectively before and after the pressure regulating means, to
communicate with each other; and a first bypass blocking portion
capable of blocking the bypass path.
2. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising:
an air chamber, provided in a portion of a path connecting the
liquid chamber to the air open hole, for trapping and storing the
liquid stored therein.
3. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein: the
container body includes a resin housing and a seal film welded to a
surface of the resin housing; and the first bypass path includes a
passage recess portion which is formed in the surface of the resin
housing and which has an opening surface closed by the seal
film.
4. A liquid filling method for the liquid container according to
any one of claims 1 to 3, the method comprising the step of:
reducing a pressure in an inner part of the liquid chamber to be a
predetermined pressure through a suction from the air open hole;
filling an predetermined amount of the liquid into the liquid
chamber through the liquid supply hole; and blocking the first
bypass path.
5. The liquid container according to claim 1 or 2, further
comprising: liquid detecting means, provided in a portion of the
liquid leading path and upstream of the pressure regulating means,
for detect a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid
chamber.
6. The liquid container according to claim 5, wherein: the
container body includes a resin housing and a seal film welded to a
surface of the resin housing; each of the first and second liquid
passages includes a passage recess portion which is formed in the
surface of the resin housing and which has an opening surface
closed by the seal film; the first bypass path is defined between
the resin housing and the seal film by leaving at least a part of a
welding region of the seal film to the resin housing as an unwelded
portion; and the unwelded portion, which is the first bypass
blocking portion, is capable of being subjected to a welding
processing to blocking the bypass path.
7. The liquid container according to claim 5, wherein the liquid
detecting means includes: a cavity which is a space communicating
with the liquid leading path; an oscillating plate forming an
internal wall surface of the cavity; and an actuator for
oscillating the oscillating plate, and the liquid detecting means
detects a presence or absence of the liquid in the cavity based on
an oscillating waveform of the oscillating plate which is changed
corresponding to the presence or absence of the liquid in the
cavity.
8. The liquid container according to claim 5, further comprising: a
pressure reducing hole for causing the liquid chamber to
communicate with an outside, the pressure reducing hole capable of
being used to reduce a pressure in the liquid chamber.
9. A liquid filling method for the liquid container according to
claim 5, comprising the steps of: reducing a pressure in an inner
part of the liquid chamber to be a predetermined pressure through a
suction from the air open hole; filling an predetermined amount of
the liquid into the liquid chamber through the liquid supply hole;
and blocking the first bypass path.
10. A liquid filling method for the liquid container according to
claim 8, comprising the steps of: sealing the air open hole;
reducing a pressure in an inner part of the liquid chamber to be a
predetermined pressure through a suction from the pressure reducing
hole; filling a predetermined amount of the liquid into the liquid
chamber through the liquid supply hole; and blocking the first
bypass path.
11. The liquid container according to claim 5, further comprising:
second bypass path for causing third and fourth liquid leading
passages of the liquid leading path, provided respectively before
and after the liquid detecting means, to communicate with each
other, or for causing the third liquid leading passage of the
liquid leading path to directly communicate with the liquid
chamber; second bypass blocking portion capable of blocking the
second bypass path.
12. The liquid container according to claim 11, wherein: the
container body includes a resin housing and a seal film welded to a
surface of the resin housing; and the first and second bypass paths
respectively include passage recess portions which are formed in
the surface of the resin housing and which have opening surfaces
closed by the same seal film.
13. The liquid container according to claim 12, wherein the second
liquid leading passage which is provided after the pressure
regulating means and with which the first bypass path communicates
and the fourth liquid leading passage which is provided after the
liquid detecting means and with which the second bypass path
communicates are the same liquid leading passage of the liquid
leading path.
14. The liquid container according to claim 13, wherein the first
liquid leading passage which is provided before the pressure
regulating means and with which the first bypass path communicates
and the third liquid leading passage which is provided before the
liquid detecting means and with which the second bypass path
communicates are different liquid leading passages of the liquid
leading path.
15. The liquid container according to claim 11, further comprising:
an air chamber, provided in a portion of a path connecting the
liquid chamber to the air open hole, for trapping and storing the
liquid stored therein; a pressure reducing hole for causing the
liquid chamber to communicate with an outside, the pressure
reducing hole capable of being used to reduce a pressure in the
liquid chamber.
16. A liquid filling method for the liquid container according to
claim 15, comprising the steps of: sealing the air open hole;
reducing a pressure in an inner part of the liquid chamber to be a
predetermined pressure through a suction from the pressure reducing
hole; filling a predetermined amount of the liquid into the liquid
chamber through the liquid supply hole; and blocking the first and
second bypass paths.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid container of an
air open type which is suitable as an ink cartridge to be attached
to an ink jet printer, for example, and a liquid filling method of
filling the liquid container with a liquid.
[0002] Examples of a liquid container include an ink cartridge to
be used in a printer of an ink jet type. The ink cartridge for the
printer of the ink jet type has an ink chamber, provided in a
container body, for accommodating an ink to be supplied to a print
head. The ink cartridge can be removably fitted and attached into a
cartridge attachment portion at a predetermined position in use.
The ink accommodated in the ink chamber is supplied to the print
head to be driven in accordance with print data transferred from a
host computer and is ejected onto a target position of a print
medium, such as a paper, by means of a nozzle provided on the print
head.
[0003] As an ink cartridge of an air open type to be attached to
the printer of the ink jet type, there has variously been proposed
a structure comprising: a container body attachable to an ink
receiving portion of a printer side; an ink chamber for
accommodating an ink; an ink supply hole provided to communicate
with the ink chamber and connectable to the ink receiving portion
of a cartridge attachment portion of the printer side; an ink
leading path for leading the ink stored in the ink chamber to the
ink supply hole; pressure regulating means provided in a portion of
the ink leading path and serving to regulate a pressure of the ink
to be supplied to the ink receiving portion through the ink supply
hole; and an air open passage for causing the ink chamber to
communicate with an outside, thereby introducing outside air into
the ink chamber as the ink in the ink chamber is consumed.
[0004] For such an ink cartridge, there has been proposed a liquid
filling method of previously forming, in a container body, a
special ink injecting hole communicating with an ink chamber and
filling the ink chamber with an ink by using the ink injecting hole
(see Patent Document 1, for example).
[0005] Patent Document 1: JP-A-2004-216866
[0006] Patent Document 2: JP-A-2005-22257
[0007] The special ink injecting hole for filling the ink is
provided for the following reasons.
[0008] In case of the ink cartridge as discussed above, two holes,
i.e. an air open hole and an ink supply hole, are provided for
causing the ink chamber to communicate with an outside. However,
neither of these two holes is suitable for injecting the ink. In
other words, the air open hole usually has a very small passage
diameter or cross-sectional area, and furthermore, has such a
complicated structure that bending is repeated many times in order
to prevent the ink from easily leaking out even if the cartridge is
vibrated or the like in use. For this reason, the ink cannot be
caused to flow quickly through the air open hole. When the stuck
ink is dried later, moreover, there is also a possibility that an
original function of the air open hole might be deteriorated due to
clogging. On the other hand, a passage diameter or cross-sectional
area of the ink supply hole can be set to be larger than that of
the air open hole, but pressure regulating means is provided in an
ink leading path causing the ink supply hole to communicate with
the ink chamber. Since the pressure regulating means has a function
as a nonreturn valve for hindering a reverse flow from the ink
supply hole side to the ink chamber, it is difficult to use the ink
supply hole to fill the ink into the ink chamber.
[0009] In the structure in which the special ink injecting hole is
provided as described above, however, it is necessary to comprise a
step of sealing the opened ink injecting hole by sticking a seal
film after completing the ink filling step. The step of sealing the
ink injecting hole causes an increase in the steps of manufacturing
the ink cartridge. Consequently, a cost is increased or a
productivity is deteriorated.
[0010] When the ink injecting hole is provided, moreover, there is
a possibility that a user might peel the seal film sealing the ink
injecting hole by mistake, thereby causing a disadvantage such as a
leakage of the ink.
[0011] Furthermore, the ink cartridge may be provided with ink
detecting means in a portion of the ink leading path and upstream
of the pressure regulating means. In this case, the ink detecting
means may be configured to oscillate a piezoelectric oscillator and
to detect a state in which the ink in the ink leading path is
replaced with air by a change in an oscillating characteristic, for
example. With this type of the ink detecting means, the entry of
the air into the ink leading path is regarded as an ink end or ink
near end occurring when the ink in the ink chamber of the ink
cartridge is fully consumed and the air introduced from the air
open hole into the ink chamber thus enters the ink leading path. A
detection signal sent from the ink detecting means can be utilized
for displaying a residual amount of the ink and giving a notice of
a time for an exchange of the cartridge.
[0012] In the case in which the ink detecting means is provided,
however, there is a possibility that the ink detecting means might
carry out an erroneous detection due to the air remaining in the
ink leading path from the ink chamber to the ink detecting means
when use is started if the ink filled in the ink chamber through
the special ink injecting hole does not reach the ink detecting
means provided in the portion of the ink leading path.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a
liquid container and a liquid filling method which do not require a
special liquid injecting hole for filling a liquid chamber with a
liquid.
[0014] It is another object of the invention to provide a liquid
container and a liquid filling method which can surely fill a
liquid leading path with an ink without an air remaining
therein.
[0015] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a
liquid container and a liquid filling method which can make an
injection pressure of a liquid higher.
[0016] (1) A liquid container according to an illustrative,
non-limiting embodiment comprises: a container body attachable to a
container attachment portion of an apparatus side; a liquid
chamber, provided in the container body, for accommodating a liquid
therein; a liquid supply hole connectable to a liquid receiving
portion of the apparatus side; a liquid leading path for leading
the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to the liquid supply hole;
an air open hole for introducing outside air into the liquid
chamber as the liquid in the liquid chamber is consumed; pressure
regulating means, provided in a portion of the liquid leading path,
for regulating a pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the
liquid receiving portion through the liquid supply hole and
hindering a reverse flow of the liquid from the liquid supply hole
to the liquid chamber; a first bypass path for causing first and
second liquid leading passages of the liquid leading path, provided
respectively before and after the pressure regulating means, to
communicate with each other; and a first bypass blocking portion
capable of blocking the bypass path.
[0017] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
since the first and second liquid leading passages provided before
and after the pressure regulating means communicate with each other
through the bypass path, it is possible to smoothly inject the
liquid from the liquid supply hole into the liquid chamber via the
bypass path even in the case in which the pressure regulating means
has a function of a nonreturn valve. More specifically, it is
possible to employ a liquid filling method of injecting the liquid
from the liquid supply hole, thereby filling the liquid chamber
with the liquid.
[0018] Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a special liquid
injecting hole in the container body in order to fill the liquid
chamber with the liquid. Moreover, the special liquid injecting
hole is not required. Therefore, a special processing of sealing
the liquid injecting hole is not required after filling the liquid,
and it is possible to reduce a cost and to enhance a productivity
by a decrease in manufacturing steps. In addition, the special
liquid injecting hole is not required. Consequently, it is possible
to eliminate a possibility that a user might peel the sealing film
by mistake to cause a leakage of the liquid from the special liquid
injecting hole.
[0019] (2) In the liquid container of (1), it is preferable that
the liquid container further comprises an air chamber, provided in
a portion of a path connecting the liquid chamber to the air open
hole, for trapping and storing the liquid stored therein.
[0020] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
even in the case in which an air in the liquid chamber is expanded
due to a temperature change or the like, the liquid reversely flows
toward the air open hole can be trapped in the air chamber.
[0021] (3) In the liquid container, of (1) or (2), it is preferable
that: the container body includes a resin housing, which may formed
to have a shape of substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and a
seal film welded to a surface of the resin housing; and the first
bypass path includes a passage recess portion which is formed in
the surface of the resin housing and which has an opening surface
closed by the seal film.
[0022] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
it is possible to easily form the first bypass path.
[0023] (4) A liquid filling method according to an illustrative,
non-limiting embodiment is for the liquid container of any one of
(1) to (3), and comprises the step of reducing a pressure in an
inner part of the liquid chamber to be a predetermined pressure
through a suction from the air open hole; filling an predetermined
amount of the liquid into the liquid chamber through the liquid
supply hole; and blocking the first bypass path.
[0024] According to the liquid filling method having such a
feature, it is possible to readily and surely fill the
predetermined amount of the liquid into the liquid chamber through
the liquid supply hole. Consequently, it is unnecessary to form a
special liquid injection hole and to eliminate a step of sealing
the special liquid injection hole. Accordingly, by a decrease in
manufacturing steps, it is possible to decrease a cost and enhance
a productivity.
[0025] Further, as compared with a case in which the liquid supply
hole is used as a connection portion to suction means, it is
possible to prevent the liquid from flowing into the suction means
side. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a soil in the suction
means and to easily maintain and manage the suction means.
[0026] (5) Preferably, the liquid container of (1) or (2) further
comprises: liquid detecting means, provided in a portion of the
liquid leading path and upstream of the pressure regulating means,
for detect a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid
chamber.
[0027] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
the liquid injected from the liquid supply hole passes through the
first bypass path and flows into the liquid chamber via the liquid
detecting means. Therefore, the air does not remain in the liquid
leading passages of the liquid leading path, provided respectively
before and after the liquid detecting means, and there is no
possibility that the liquid detecting means might carry out an
erroneous detection due to the air remaining in those liquid
leading passages when the liquid container is started to be
used.
[0028] (6) In the liquid container of (5), it is preferable that:
the container body includes a resin housing, which may be formed to
have a shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and a
seal film welded to a surface of the resin housing; each of the
first and second liquid passages includes a passage recess portion
which is formed in the surface of the resin housing and which has
an opening surface closed by the seal film; the first bypass path
is defined between the resin housing and the seal film by leaving
at least a part of a welding region of the seal film to the resin
housing as an unwelded portion; and the unwelded portion, which is
the first bypass blocking portion, is capable of being subjected to
a welding processing to blocking the bypass path.
[0029] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
the resin housing does not need to be provided with a passage
recess portion for forming the first bypass path. Furthermore, the
resin housing does not need to be provided with a special mechanism
such as an opening/closing valve as the bypass blocking portion.
Consequently, a structure of the resin housing can be simplified,
and furthermore, a moldability of the resin housing can be enhanced
and a cost can be reduced. Moreover, it is possible to easily block
the first bypass blocking portion through the welding
processing.
[0030] (7) In the liquid container of (5) or (6), it is preferable
that the liquid detecting means includes: a cavity which is a space
communicating with the liquid leading path; an oscillating plate
forming an internal wall surface of the cavity; and an actuator for
oscillating the oscillating plate. The liquid detecting means can
be configured to detect a presence or absence of the liquid in the
cavity based on an oscillating waveform of the oscillating plate
which is changed corresponding to the presence or absence of the
liquid in the cavity.
[0031] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
in the case in which the air enters the liquid detecting means, it
is possible to quickly detect the entry of the gas by a change in
an oscillating characteristic and to precisely detect that the
liquid in the liquid chamber is absent. Such liquid detecting means
erroneously detects that the liquid is absent when air bubbles are
undesirably mixed into the cavity. Accordingly, the use of such
liquid detecting means in combination with the liquid container
which can reliably fill the liquid into the liquid leading path
provided with the liquid detecting means makes it possible to
enhance precision in the detection.
[0032] (8) Preferably, the liquid container of any one of (5) to
(7) further comprises a pressure reducing hole for causing the
liquid chamber to communicate with an outside. The pressure
reducing hole is capable of being used to reduce a pressure in the
liquid chamber.
[0033] In order to fill the liquid chamber with the liquid, the
liquid chamber is previously connected to the suction means and is
thus set into a predetermined negative pressure environment.
According to the liquid container having such a structure, the
pressure reducing hole can be used as a portion to which the
suction means is connected. As compared with a case in which the
liquid supply hole is used as a portion to which the suction means
is connected, it is possible to prevent the liquid from flowing
into the suction means side. Consequently, it is possible to
eliminate a soil in the suction means, and to easily maintain and
manage the suction means.
[0034] As compared with a case in which the air open hole is used
as a portion to which the suction means is connected, a hole
diameter or cross-sectional area of the pressure reducing hole can
be set as desired, and therefore, a suction in the liquid chamber
can be executed more efficiently.
[0035] (9) A liquid filling method according to an illustrative,
non-limiting embodiment is for the liquid container any one of (5)
to (7), and comprises the steps of: reducing a pressure in an inner
part of the liquid chamber to be a predetermined pressure through a
suction from the air open hole; filling an predetermined amount of
the liquid into the liquid chamber through the liquid supply hole;
and blocking the first bypass path.
[0036] According to the liquid filling method having such a
feature, the liquid injected from the liquid supply hole and
passing through the first bypass path flows into the liquid chamber
via the liquid detecting means. Therefore, the air does not remain
in liquid leading passages of the liquid leading path, provided
respectively before and after the liquid detecting means, and there
is no possibility that the liquid detecting means might carry out
an erroneous detection due to the air remaining in those liquid
leading passages at the start of use.
[0037] (10) A liquid filling method according to an illustrative,
non-limiting embodiment is for the liquid container of (8), and
comprises the steps of: sealing the air open hole; reducing a
pressure in an inner part of the liquid chamber to be a
predetermined pressure through a suction from the pressure reducing
hole; filling a predetermined amount of the liquid into the liquid
chamber through the liquid supply hole; and blocking the first
bypass path.
[0038] According to the liquid filling method having such a
feature, as compared with a case in which the liquid supply hole is
used as a portion to which the suction means is connected, it is
possible to prevent the liquid from flowing into the suction means
side. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate a soil in the
suction means, and to easily maintain and manage the suction
means.
[0039] As compared with a case in which the air open hole is used
as a portion to which the suction means is connected, a hole
diameter or cross-sectional area of the pressure reducing hole can
be set as desired, and therefore a suction in the liquid chamber
can be executed more efficiently.
[0040] (11) Preferably, the liquid container of (5) further
comprises: second bypass path for causing third and fourth liquid
leading passages of the liquid leading path, provided respectively
before and after the liquid detecting means, to communicate with
each other, or for causing the third liquid leading passage of the
liquid leading path to directly communicate with the liquid
chamber; and second bypass blocking portion capable of blocking the
second bypass path.
[0041] In the liquid container having such a structure, a part of
the liquid can be injected into the liquid chamber without passing
through an inner part of the liquid detecting means. Therefore, it
is possible to eliminate an application of a large pressure to the
liquid detecting means when the liquid is injected. In other words,
the injection pressure of the liquid can be increased, to thereby
shorten a cycle time required for liquid injection and reduce a
cost.
[0042] Further, the second bypass path can be opened at a site of
the liquid chamber where the liquid is difficult to be injected, so
that the liquid can be injected and filled into that site surely
and easily.
[0043] (12) In the liquid container (11), it is preferable that:
the container body includes a resin housing, which may have a shape
of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and a seal film
welded to a surface of the resin housing; and the first and second
bypass paths respectively include passage recess portions which are
formed in the surface of the resin housing and which have opening
surfaces closed by the same seal film.
[0044] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
the second bypass path can be easily formed.
[0045] (13) In the liquid container of (12), it is preferable that
the second liquid leading passage which is provided after the
pressure regulating means and with which the first bypass path
communicates and the fourth liquid leading passage which is
provided after the liquid detecting means and with which the second
bypass path communicates are the same liquid leading passage of the
liquid leading path.
[0046] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
it is possible to easily block the first and second bypass paths by
a single step of subjecting the first and second bypass blocking
portion at the same liquid leading passage to a welding
process.
[0047] (14) In the liquid container of (13), the first liquid
leading passage which is provided before the pressure regulating
means and with which the first bypass path communicates and the
third liquid leading passage which is provided before the liquid
detecting means and with which the second bypass path communicates
may be different liquid leading passages of the liquid leading
path.
[0048] (15) Preferably, the liquid container of (11) further
comprises: an air chamber, provided in a portion of a path
connecting the liquid chamber to the air open hole, for trapping
and storing the liquid stored therein; and a pressure reducing hole
for causing the liquid chamber to communicate with an outside. The
pressure reducing hole is capable of being used to reduce a
pressure in the liquid chamber.
[0049] According to the liquid container having such a structure,
as compared with a case in which the pressure reducing hole is
provided to the liquid chamber, it is possible to reduce a
possibility that the liquid might flow into a suction pump or the
like of a manufacturing device. Further, since a hole diameter or
cross-sectional area of the pressure reducing hole can be set as
desired, it is possible to efficiently reduce a pressure in the
liquid chamber as compared with a case in which the air open hole
is used for suction.
[0050] (16) A liquid filling method according to an illustrative,
non-limiting embodiment is for the liquid container of (15), and
comprises the steps of: sealing the air open hole; reducing a
pressure in an inner part of the liquid chamber to be a
predetermined pressure through a suction from the pressure reducing
hole; filling a predetermined amount of the liquid into the liquid
chamber through the liquid supply hole; and blocking the first and
second bypass paths.
[0051] According to the liquid filling method having such a
feature, as compared with a case in which the liquid supply hole is
used as a portion to which the suction means is connected, it is
possible to prevent the liquid from flowing into the suction means
side. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate a soil in the
suction means, and to easily maintain and manage the suction
means.
[0052] As compared with a case in which the air open hole is used
as a portion to which the suction means is connected, a hole
diameter or cross-sectional area of the pressure reducing hole can
be set as desired, and therefore a suction in the liquid chamber
can be executed more efficiently.
[0053] The present disclosure relates to the subject matter
contained in Japanese patent application Nos. 2005-102874 (filed on
Mar. 31, 2005 and 2006-035571 (filed on Feb. 13, 2006), each of
which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0054] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an ink
cartridge according to a first embodiment of a liquid container in
accordance with the invention.
[0055] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a welding region of a
seal film when a first bypass path is formed in the ink cartridge
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an ink filling
method of filling an ink into the ink cartridge illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0057] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the ink filling method of
filling the ink liquid into the ink cartridge illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0058] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a welded portion of
the seal film when the bypass path is blocked in the ink cartridge
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0059] FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining an ink cartridge
according to a second embodiment of a liquid container in
accordance with the invention, and an ink filling method of filling
an ink into the ink cartridge.
[0060] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a welding region of a
seal film when first and second bypass paths are formed in an ink
cartridge according to a third embodiment of a liquid container in
accordance with the invention.
[0061] FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining an ink filling
method of filling an ink into the ink cartridge shown in FIG.
7.
[0062] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a welding region of a
seal film when a first bypass path is formed in an ink cartridge
according to a fourth embodiment of a liquid container in
accordance with the invention.
[0063] FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining an ink filling
method of filling an ink into the ink cartridge shown in FIG.
9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0064] Illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of a liquid container
and a liquid filling method according to the invention will be
described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0065] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an ink
cartridge according to a first embodiment of the liquid container
in accordance with the invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view
showing a welding region of a seal film in a state in which a first
bypass path is formed in the ink cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an ink filling method of
filling an ink in the ink cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4
is a flowchart showing the ink filling method of filling the ink in
the ink cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an explanatory
view showing a welded portion of the seal film in a state in which
the first bypass path is blocked in the ink cartridge illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0066] The arrangement and structure of each portion shown in these
drawings can be changed properly.
[0067] The ink cartridge is an example of the liquid container, and
is arranged to be attachable to a cartridge attachment portion of a
carriage that mounts a print head (a liquid ejecting portion)
thereon and that is provided in a printer of an ink jet type.
[0068] The ink cartridge 1 shown as the first embodiment serves to
supply an ink to a print head, and a container body 3 attachable to
a container attachment portion (a cartridge attachment portion) of
an apparatus (the printer of the ink jet type) is formed by a resin
housing 4 taking an external shape of an almost rectangular
parallelepiped and a seal film 5 welded to a surface of the resin
housing 4. The resin housing 4 is molded integrally through a
synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP), for example, and the
seal film 5 is a resin film constituted by a material which can be
thermally welded to the resin housing 4. During the use of the ink
cartridge 1, an outside of the seal film 5 is covered with a cover
for a protection.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the container body 3 is provided
with: an ink chamber (a liquid chamber) 11 for accommodating an
ink; an ink supply hole (a liquid supply hole) 13 fittingly
connectable to an ink receiving portion (a liquid receiving
portion) disposed in the cartridge attachment portion of the
printer; an ink leading path (a liquid leading path) 15 for leading
the ink stored in the ink chamber 11 to the ink supply hole 13; and
an air open hole 17 for introducing outside air into the ink
chamber 11 as the ink in the ink chamber 11 is consumed. That is,
the ink cartridge 1 is of an air open type.
[0070] The container body 3 is further provided with: pressure
regulating means 19, provided in a portion of the ink leading path
15, for regulating a pressure of the ink to be supplied to the ink
receiving portion of the printer through the ink supply hole 13;
and ink detecting means liquid detecting means) 21, provided in
another portion of the ink leading path 15 in an upstream side of
the pressure regulating means 19, for detecting the presence or
absence of the ink in the ink chamber 11.
[0071] The ink leading path 15 includes: a first ink leading
passage 15a causing the ink chamber 11 and the ink detecting means
21 to communicate with each other; a second ink leading passage 15b
causing the ink detecting means 21 and the pressure regulating
means 19 to communicate with each other; and a third ink leading
passage 15c causing the pressure regulating means 19 and the ink
supply hole 13 to communicate with each other.
[0072] In the embodiment, at least the second ink leading passage
15b and the third ink leading passage 15c which are positioned
before and after the pressure regulating means 19 are formed by
passage recess portions 16b and 16c formed in one surface of the
resin housing 4, and the seal film 5 welded to the one surface of
the resin housing 4 to block opening surfaces of the passage recess
portions 16b and 16c. Each of the second ink leading passage 15b
and the third ink lading passage 15c has a rectangular section.
[0073] In the embodiment, an opening surface of a recess portion 12
formed in the one surface of the resin housing 4 is blocked with
the seal film 5, so that the ink chamber 11 is partitioned to have
a sealing structure.
[0074] In the embodiment, there are provided a first bypass path 23
for causing the second ink leading passage 15b and the third ink
leading passage 15c, disposed before and after the pressure
regulating means 19, to communicate with each other, and a first
bypass blocking portion 25 for blocking the first bypass path 23
from the ink leading path 15.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 2, the first bypass path 23 is formed
between the resin housing 4 and the seal film 5 by leaving, as
unwelded portions, partial regions A1 and A2 (see FIG. 2) in the
whole welding region (a region A hatched or shaded in FIGS. 1 and
5) of the seal film 5 to the resin housing 4. When the unwelded
portions A1 and A2 are subjected to a welding processing as shown
in FIG. 5, the first bypass path 23 is cut off and blocked from the
ink leading passages 15b and 15c.
[0076] That is to say, the unwelded portions Al and A2 function as
the first bypass blocking portion 25.
[0077] The first bypass path 23 may be wholly formed as the
unwelded portion of the seal film 5 without forming a special
recess portion in the resin housing 4. In this case, the whole
first bypass path 23 may be used as the first bypass blocking
portion 25.
[0078] In the embodiment, the ink detecting means 21 includes: a
cavity 21a that is a space communicating with the ink leading path
15; an oscillating plate 21b forming an internal wall surface of
the cavity 21a, and an actuator (a piezoelectric unit) 21c for
oscillating the oscillating plate 21b. The ink detecting means 21
detects the presence or absence of the ink in the ink leading path
15 communicating with the cavity 21a based on a change in an
oscillating characteristic (a waveform of an oscillation) of the
oscillating plate 21b depending on the presence or absence of the
ink in the cavity 21a.
[0079] The ink is filled in the ink chamber 11 of the ink cartridge
1 upon connection of an ink injecting device 31 to the ink supply
hole 13 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0080] The ink injecting device 31 has an ink supply tube 41 of ink
supply means 33 and a vacuum suction tube 46 of vacuum suction
means 34. The ink supply tube 41 and the vacuum suction tube are
separated from each other. The ink supply tube 41 is connected to
the ink supply hole 13, and the vacuum suction tube 46 is connected
to the air open hole 17.
[0081] The ink supply means 33 has a valve 42 for opening and
closing the ink supply tube 41 communicating with the ink supply
hole 13, and a pump 44 for supplying an ink stored in an ink tank
43 to the ink supply tube 41 by pressure. The supply of the ink can
be executed and stopped by the opening and closing operations of
the opening valve 42.
[0082] The vacuum suction means 34 has a valve 47 for opening and
closing the vacuum suction tube 46 communicating with the air open
hole 17, a vacuum pump 48 for evacuating air through the vacuum
suction tube 46, and an ink trap 49, provided between the valve 47
and the vacuum pump 48, collecting the ink flowing into the vacuum
suction tube 46. The vacuum suction can be executed and stopped by
the opening and closing operations of the valve 47.
[0083] Referring to FIG. 4, next, description will be given to a
liquid filling method for filling the ink in the ink chamber 11,
which is executed after the ink injecting device 31 is connected to
the ink supply hole 13 of the ink cartridge 1.
[0084] In the liquid filling method according to the embodiment,
Steps S102 to S104 are executed sequentially in order to fill the
ink in the ink chamber 11 as shown in FIG. 4.
[0085] An initial step S102 is a vacuum suction step of reducing an
inner part of the ink chamber 11 to have a predetermined pressure
through a vacuum suction from the air open hole 17, which is
executed by closing the valve 42 of the ink supply means 33
connected to the ink supply hole 13 and by opening the valve 47 of
the vacuum suction means 34 connected to the air open hole 17.
[0086] A next step S103 is an ink filling step (a liquid filling
step) of filling a predetermined amount of the ink into the ink
chamber 11, which is executed by closing the valve 47 of the vacuum
suction means 34 after the inner part of the ink chamber 11 is set
to have a predetermined pressure and by opening the opening valve
42 of the ink supply means 33 to start the supply of the ink to the
ink supply hole 13. In this step, the ink injected through the ink
supply hole 13 flows into the ink detecting means 21 through the
ink leading passage 15c, the first bypass path 23 and the ink
leading passage 15b so that the cavity 21a is filled with the ink.
Then, the ink passes through the ink leading passage 15a in the
upstream side of the ink detecting means 21 and flows into the ink
chamber 11 so that the ink chamber 11 is filled with the ink.
[0087] A next step S104 is a bypass blocking step of blocking the
first bypass path 23 from the ink leading path 15. The first bypass
path 23 is cut off and blocked from the ink leading passages 15b
and 15c, so that the ink flowing from the ink chamber 11 toward the
ink supply hole 13 reliably passes through the pressure regulating
means 19 during the use of the ink cartridge. Therefore, a pressure
at which the ink is supplied to the ink supply hole 13 is
maintained to be constant.
[0088] The bypass blocking step of blocking the first bypass path
23 from the ink leading passages 15b and 15c is executed, and the
air open hole 17, from which the vacuum suction means 34 is
separated, is sealed with a sealing film 29.
[0089] According to the ink cartridge 1 described above, in a state
in which the ink leading passages 15b and 15c provided before and
after the pressure regulating means 19 communicate with each other
through the first bypass path 23, the ink can be injected from the
ink supply hole 13 into the ink chamber 11 via the first bypass
path 23 even in the case in which the pressure regulating means 19
has the function of a nonreturn valve.
[0090] Accordingly, it is possible to employ a liquid filling
method of injecting the ink from the ink supply hole 13 to fill the
ink into the ink chamber 11.
[0091] Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide, in the
container body 3, a special ink injecting hole for filling the ink
into the ink chamber 11. The special ink injecting hole is not
required. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the processing of
sealing the special ink injecting hole after the ink is filled.
Consequently, the manufacturing steps can be decreased so that a
cost can be reduced and a productivity can be enhanced.
[0092] Since the special ink injecting hole is not required, it is
possible to eliminate a possibility that a user might peel the
sealing film of the special ink injecting hole by mistake to cause
the leakage of the ink.
[0093] In the case in which a liquid filling method of filling the
ink into the ink chamber 11 is executed by injecting the ink from
the ink supply hole 13, the ink passing through the first bypass
path 23 flows into the ink chamber 11 via the ink detecting means
21 disposed upstream of the first bypass path 23. Therefore, air
does not remain in the ink leading passages 15a and 15b provided
before and after the ink detecting means 21 and there is no
possibility that the ink detecting means 21 might carry out an
erroneous detection due to the air remaining in the ink leading
passages 15a and 15b at the start of the use of the cartridge.
[0094] In the ink cartridge 1 according to the embodiment, at least
the ink leading passages 15b and 15c of the ink leading path 15,
provided before and after the pressure regulating means 19, are
formed by: the passage recess portions 16b and 16c formed on a
surface of the resin housing 4; and the seal film 5 welded to the
surface of the resin housing 4 and to close the open surfaces of
the passage recess portions 16b and 16c. Further, the first bypass
path 23 is formed between the resin housing 4 and the seal film 5
by leaving parts of the welding region of the seal film 5 to the
resin housing 4 as the unwelded portions A1 and A2. Furthermore,
the unwelded portions A1 and A2 are subjected to the welding
processing so that the first bypass path 23 can easily be
blocked.
[0095] With such a structure, it is possible to provide the first
bypass path 23 by only disposing the unwelded portion(s) of the
seal film 5 without a passage recess portion dedicated to form the
first bypass path 23 in the resin housing 4. Moreover, it is not
necessary to provide a special mechanism such as an opening/closing
valve to function as the bypass blocking portion 25. Therefore, it
is possible to simplify the structure of the resin housing 4, and
to enhance the moldability of the resin housing 4 and to reduce the
cost.
[0096] In the ink cartridge 1 according to the embodiment,
moreover, the ink detecting means 21 detects that the ink in the
ink chamber 11 is absent if the ink present in the cavity 21a of
the ink detecting means 21 is replaced with the air. When the ink
is filled in the ink chamber 11, the ink is injected from the ink
supply hole 13 into the ink chamber 11 through the first bypass
path 23 and the ink detecting means 21. Consequently, the ink is
reliably filled into the ink detecting means 21 and the surrounding
passages and does not generate the air bubbles which may cause the
erroneous detection of the ink detecting means 21. Therefore,
precision in the detection of the ink detecting means 21 is
enhanced.
[0097] FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining an ink cartridge 51
and an ink filling method for the ink cartridge 51 according to a
second embodiment of the liquid container in accordance with the
invention.
[0098] In the ink cartridge 51 shown in FIG. 6, a pressure reducing
hole 53 is added to the structure of the ink cartridge 1 according
to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0099] The pressure reducing hole 53 causes the ink chamber 11 in
the container body 3 to communicate with an outside, and is used
for reducing a pressure in the ink chamber 11 when it is connected
to the vacuum suction means 34.
[0100] The ink cartridge 51 is filled with an ink by a sequential
execution of the following steps.
[0101] The air open hole 17 provided in the ink cartridge 51 is
previously closed hermetically and sealed temporarily by sealing
means 35.
[0102] First of all, a vacuum suction step is executed by: closing
the valve 42 of the ink supply means 33 connected to the ink supply
hole 13; opening the valve 47 of the vacuum suction means 34
connected to the pressure reducing hole 53; and reducing an inner
part of the ink chamber 11 to have a predetermined pressure through
a vacuum suction from the pressure reducing hole 53.
[0103] Next, an ink filling step (a liquid filling step) is
executed by: closing the valve 47 of the vacuum suction means 34
after the inner part of the ink chamber 11 is set to have the
predetermined pressure; opening the valve 42 of the ink supply
means 33 to start the supply of the ink to the ink supply hole 13;
and filling a predetermined amount of the ink into the ink chamber
11.
[0104] Subsequently, a bypass blocking step of blocking the first
bypass path 23 from the ink leading path 15 is executed, and
furthermore, the pressure reducing hole 53 from which the vacuum
suction means 34 is disconnected is sealed with a sealing film.
Moreover, the air open hole 17 sealed temporarily by the sealing
means 35 is sealed with the sealing film 29.
[0105] In such a liquid filling method, as compared with the case
of FIG. 3 in which the air open hole 17 is used as a portion to
which the vacuum suction means 34 is connected, the pressure
reducing hole 53 can have a simpler structure than the air open
hole 17 and can be set to have a larger, desired hole diameter or
cross-sectional area than the air open hole 17. Consequently, the
vacuum suction in the ink chamber 11 can be executed more
efficiently.
[0106] FIG. 7 is a diagram for showing an ink cartridge 61
according to a third embodiment of the liquid container in
accordance with the invention, and in particular, for explaining a
welding region of a seal film to form first and second bypass
paths. FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining an ink filling
method for filling an ink into the ink cartridge 61 shown in FIG.
7.
[0107] The ink cartridge 61 shown in these figures is configured
such that a second bypass path 24 for connection between an
upstream side of the ink detection means 21 and a downstream side
thereof, a second bypass blocking portion 26 capable of blocking
the second bypass path 24, an air chamber 27 and a pressure
reducing hole 28 are added to the structure of the ink cartridge 1
of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3.
[0108] The second bypass path 24 in this embodiment connects a
first ink chamber 11a of the ink chamber 11 and the third ink
leading passage 15c to each other, which are respectively located
in the upstream side and the downstream side of the ink detecting
means 21 (which are respectively located before and after the ink
detecting means 21). The second bypass blocking portion 26 is
arranged to block the second bypass path 24 from the second ink
leading passage 15c and the first ink chamber 11a.
[0109] Similarly to the first bypass path 23 discussed above, the
second bypass path 24 is formed between the resin housing 4 and the
seal film 5 by leaving, as unwelded portions, partial regions B1
and B2 in the whole welding region of the seal film 5 to the resin
housing 4. When the unwelded portions B1 and B2 are subjected to a
welding processing, the second bypass path 24 is cut off and
blocked from the third ink leading passage 15c and the first ink
chamber 11a. That is to say, the unwelded portions B1 and B2
function as the second bypass blocking portion 26.
[0110] The second bypass path 24 may be wholly formed as the
unwelded portion of the seal film 5 without forming a special
recess portion in the resin housing 4. In this case, the whole
second bypass path 24 may be used as the second bypass blocking
portion 26.
[0111] The air chamber 27 functions to trap and store an ink
flowing into a flow path connecting the ink chamber 11 to the air
open hole 17. When an air in the ink chamber 11 is expanded due to
the temperature change or the like, the air chamber 27 can trap and
store the ink reversely flowing toward the air open hole 17.
[0112] The pressure reducing hole 28 in this embodiment causes the
ink chamber 11 of the container body 3 to an outside via the air
chamber 27, and can be used to reduce a pressure in the ink chamber
11 when the vacuum suction means 34 is connected to the pressure
reducing hole 28.
[0113] A method of filling an ink into the ink chamber 11 of the
ink cartridge 61 can be executed by a sequential execution of the
following steps using the ink injecting device 31 connected to the
ink supply hole 13 as shown in FIG. 8.
[0114] The air open hole 17 provided in the ink cartridge 61 is
previously closed hermetically and sealed temporarily by the
sealing means 35.
[0115] First of all, a vacuum suction step is executed by: closing
the valve 42 of the ink supply means 33 connected to the ink supply
hole 13; opening the valve 47 of the vacuum suction means 34
connected to the pressure reducing hole 28; and reducing an inner
part of the ink chamber 11 to have a predetermined pressure through
a vacuum suction from the pressure reducing hole 28.
[0116] Next, an ink filling step (a liquid filling step) is
executed by: closing the valve 47 of the vacuum suction means 34
after the inner part of the ink chamber 11 is set to have the
predetermined pressure; opening the valve 42 of the ink supply
means 33 to start the supply of the ink to the ink supply hole 13;
and filling a predetermined amount of the ink into the ink chamber
11.
[0117] Subsequently, a bypass blocking step of blocking the first
and second bypass paths 23 and 24 from the ink leading path 15 and
the ink chamber 11 is executed, and furthermore, the pressure
reducing hole 28 from which the vacuum suction means 34 is
disconnected is sealed with a sealing film. Moreover, the air open
hole 17 sealed temporarily by the sealing means 35 is sealed with
the sealing film 29.
[0118] According to the ink cartridge 61 discussed above, a part of
the ink can be injected into the ink chamber 11 without passing
through an inner part of the ink detecting means 21. Therefore, it
is possible to prevent a large pressure from acting on the ink
detecting means 21 during the ink injection. In other words, an ink
injection pressure can be correspondingly increased to shorten a
cycle time of the ink injection. As a result, a cost can be
decreased.
[0119] In the case in which a pigment ink that is likely to settle
downwardly is injected into the ink chamber 11, it is necessary to
prevent such a downward settlement by employing a complicated
structure for the ink chamber 11, such as division of the ink
chamber 11 into plural ink chambers (first ink chambers 11a and
second ink chambers 11b, for example). In the ink cartridge 61 of
this embodiment, since the second bypass path 24 is opened to the
first ink chamber 11a where the ink is difficult to be injected,
the ink can be readily and surely injected into the first ink
chamber 11.
[0120] In the ink cartridge 61 of this embodiment, since the first
bypass path 23 and the second bypass path 24 are formed by passage
recess portions 16d and 16a formed in a surface of the resin
housing 4 having a shape of a substantially rectangular
parallelepiped, and the seal film 5 that is welded to this surface
of the resin housing 4 and that closes opening surfaces of those
passage recess portions 16d and 16a. Further, the same seal film 5
is also used to close the opening surfaces of the passage recess
portions 16b and 16d and so on. Accordingly, the second bypass path
24 can be easily formed.
[0121] In this embodiment, the first bypass path 23 and the second
bypass path 24 are arranged to make a common flow passage, i.e. the
third ink leading passage 15c, in fluid communication with the
second ink leading passage 15b and the first ink chamber 11a which
are respectively located in an upstream side of the pressure
regulating means 19 and in an upstream side of the ink detecting
means 21.
[0122] According to the ink cartridge 61 having such a structure,
the first bypass blocking portion 25 and the second bypass blocking
portion 26 can be subjected to a single step of processing to
easily block the first bypass path 23 and the second bypass path
24.
[0123] FIG. 9 is a diagram for showing an ink cartridge 71
according to a fourth embodiment of the liquid container in
accordance with the invention, and in particular, for explaining a
welding region of a seal film to form first bypass path. FIG. 10 is
a block diagram for explaining an ink filling method for filling an
ink into the ink cartridge 71 shown in FIG. 9.
[0124] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the container body 3 of the ink
cartridge 71 is provided with: the ink chamber 11 for accommodating
an ink; the ink supply hole 13; the ink leading path 15 for leading
the ink stored in the ink chamber 11 to the ink supply hole 13; the
air open hole 17 for introducing outside air into the ink chamber
11 through the air chamber 27 as the ink in the ink chamber 11 is
consumed; and pressure regulating means 19, provided in a portion
of the ink leading path 15, for regulating a pressure of the ink to
be supplied to the ink receiving portion of the printer through the
ink supply hole 13.
[0125] The ink leading path 15 includes: the second ink leading
passage 15b causing the ink chamber 11 and the pressure regulating
means 19 to communicate with each other; and the third ink leading
passage 15c causing the pressure regulating means 19 and the ink
supply hole 13 to communicate with each other.
[0126] As shown in FIG. 9, the first bypass path 23 in this
embodiment is formed between the resin housing 4 and the seal film
5 by leaving, as unwelded portions, partial regions A1 and A2 in
the whole welding region of the seal film 5 (see FIG. 1) to the
resin housing 4. When the unwelded portions A1 and A2 are subjected
to a welding processing, the first bypass path 23 is cut off and
blocked from the ink leading passages 15b and 15c. That is to say,
the unwelded portions A1 and A2 function as the first bypass
blocking portion 25.
[0127] The air chamber 27 functions to trap and store an ink
flowing into a flow path connecting the ink chamber 11 to the air
open hole 17. When an air in the ink chamber 11 is expanded due to
the temperature change or the like, the air chamber 27 can trap and
store the ink reversely flowing toward the air open hole 17.
[0128] The ink can be filled in the ink chamber 11 of the ink
cartridge 71 upon connection of the ink injecting device 31 to the
ink supply hole 13 as shown in FIG. 10.
[0129] An initial step is a vacuum suction step of reducing an
inner part of the ink chamber 11 to have a predetermined pressure
through a vacuum suction from the air open hole 17, which is
executed by closing the valve 42 of the ink supply means 33
connected to the ink supply hole 13 and by opening the valve 47 of
the vacuum suction means 34 connected to the air open hole 17.
[0130] A next step is an ink filling step (a liquid filling step)
of filling a predetermined amount of the ink into the ink chamber
11, which is executed by closing the valve 47 of the vacuum suction
means 34 after the inner part of the ink chamber 11 is set to have
a predetermined pressure and by opening the valve 42 of the ink
supply means 33 to start the supply of the ink to the ink supply
hole 13. In this step, the ink injected through the ink supply hole
13 flows into the ink chamber 11 through the ink leading passage
15c, the first bypass path 23 and the ink leading passage 15b so
that the ink chamber 11 is filled with the ink.
[0131] In a next step, i.e. a bypass blocking step, the first
bypass path 23 is cut off and blocked from the ink leading passages
15b and 15c, so that the ink flowing from the ink chamber 11 toward
the ink supply hole 13 reliably passes through the pressure
regulating means 19 during the use of the ink cartridge. Therefore,
a pressure at which the ink is supplied to the ink supply hole 13
is maintained to be constant.
[0132] The bypass blocking step of blocking the first bypass path
23 from the ink leading passages 15b and 15c is executed, and the
air open hole 17, from which the vacuum suction means 34 is
separated, is sealed with the sealing film 29.
[0133] According to the ink cartridge 71 described above, in a
state in which the ink leading passages 15b and 15c provided before
and after the pressure regulating means 19 communicate with each
other through the first bypass path 23, the ink can be injected
from the ink supply hole 13 into the ink chamber 11 via the first
bypass path 23 even in the case in which the pressure regulating
means 19 has the function of a nonreturn valve.
[0134] Accordingly, it is possible to employ a liquid filling
method of injecting the ink from the ink supply hole 13 to fill the
ink into the ink chamber 11.
[0135] Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide, in the
container body 3, a special ink injecting hole for filling the ink
into the ink chamber 11. The special ink injecting hole is not
required. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the processing of
sealing the special ink injecting hole after the ink is filled.
Consequently, the manufacturing steps can be decreased so that a
cost can be reduced and a productivity can be enhanced.
[0136] Since the special ink injecting hole is not required, it is
possible to eliminate a possibility that a user might peel the
sealing film of the special ink injecting hole by mistake to cause
the leakage of the ink.
[0137] In the ink cartridge 71 according to this embodiment, at
least the ink leading passages 15b and 15c of the ink leading path
15, provided before and after the pressure regulating means 19, are
formed by: the passage recess portions 16b and 16c formed on a
surface of the resin housing 4; and the seal film 5 welded to the
surface of the resin housing 4 to close the open surfaces of the
passage recess portions 16b and 16c. Further, the first bypass path
23 is formed between the resin housing 4 and the seal film 5 by
leaving parts of the welding region of the seal film 5 to the resin
housing 4 as the unwelded portions A1 and A2. Furthermore, the
unwelded portions A1 and A2 are subjected to the welding processing
so that the first bypass path 23 can easily be blocked.
[0138] With such a structure, it is possible to provide the first
bypass path 23 by only disposing the unwelded portion(s) of the
seal film 5 without a passage recess portion dedicated to form the
first bypass path 23 in the resin housing 4. Moreover, it is not
necessary to provide a special mechanism such as an opening/closing
valve to function as the bypass blocking portion 25. Therefore, it
is possible to simplify the structure of the resin housing 4, and
to enhance the moldability of the resin housing 4 and to reduce the
cost.
[0139] The use of the liquid container according to the invention
is not restricted to the ink cartridge illustrated as the
embodiments. For example, the liquid container according to the
invention is suitably applicable to a liquid ejecting device that
has a container attachment portion to which the liquid container
can be removably attached, and that has a liquid ejecting head to
which a liquid is supplied from the liquid container. Examples of
the liquid ejecting head of the liquid ejecting device include a
liquid ejecting head (a print head) of a recording apparatus of an
ink jet type, a coloring agent ejecting head of a color filter
manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a color filter of a
liquid crystal display, an electrode material (conducting paste)
ejecting head for forming an electrode of an organic EL display or
an FED (a field emission display), a bioorganism ejecting head of a
biochip manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a biochip and a
sample ejecting head to be a precision pipette.
* * * * *